A/N: I'm sorry it's been so long! Eep! My life is still hectic, but be assured that I'm alive.
This chapter came out short and not so exciting, but I guess it's all right. There will be action coming soon, I hope. lol
Non beta-read version.
Song: 'Himawari' by Aqua Timez
Ch. 25: Fire and Lightning
"Are you really Professor Dumbledore?" Neville asked, looking amazed by the boy that looked younger than him, even if the boy was tall for his years.
Al's bright blue eyes twinkled at the question and the fourteen year old looking headmaster nodded. "Yes, Mr. Longbottom. I am."
Luna was smiling while she approached Al, her features in a dream-like state. "Headmaster, it's very exciting to see you like this. Can I take a picture of you? I will save it for all time."
Harry almost wanted to snap. He had just found out Ron and Hermione were in Nebureth's hands and no one seemed to care. He put his hands into fists, knelt, and punched the bone filled earth. Everyone stared at him and Dianeia lowered herself, placing her hands on his shoulders. "We can't do anything right now, Harry. We are not ready to go to Nebureth's realm. Harry, I too have someone in his hands, remember?"
Harry felt suddenly very stupid and his whole body went numb when he realized Dianeia was right. He had to swallow the foul news about his friends, but he couldn't do anything about it yet, just like Dianeia couldn't simply fly to Nebureth's fortress to try and rescue Nhuriel. "I'm sorry," he muttered under his breath.
"Don't be," replied Luna, a camera ready in her hands, and Harry's eyes locked with her own gaze. "You don't have to be sorry for how you feel. We will rescue them in due time."
"Yeah!" said Neville. "We'll rescue Ron and Hermione plus at least we know that Nebureth doesn't hurt the children, right?" Neville turned to Al looking a little unsure of himself and Al nodded reassuringly.
Albus had learned much about Nebureth and what Larakain's Dark Lord was doing during his stay in Shalzra. He had also learned that Nebureth was half elf. "We will rescue them."
"Will you stay with us?" There was hope in Harry's eyes when he asked Al. For some reason he felt more secure if the ancient headmaster was with them, probably due to seeing Dumbledore as a great wizard and mentor.
"Why would I leave you when I've already gotten here? I'll be with you until the end! I will help you, Mr... Harry." Al rolled his eyes after correcting himself.
Angelus glanced at both Harry and Al and shook his head while his younger brother, Damnian, smirked with queer delight before approaching Al. "Even though I was asleep during your own time I know everything about you, mighty Al." Al's eyes lost all shine in them and his lips tightened. Damnian smiled wistfully and whispered in Al's ear, "I also know how desperate you are to tell Harry not to trust me. Do not try it, ancient little one. Yes, he will learn on his own, but it's not the time yet. A word of caution, constantly watch your back."
Damnian pulled away from Al and he expected the boy to glare at him, but Al didn't glare. In fact, the auburn haired boy smiled almost genuinely, eyes twinkling, and answered: "Thanks for the advice. I appreciate it."
Angelus' younger brother was only taken aback for a few seconds before quickly recovering. "Anytime, Al. Anytime."
"Smile!" Luna almost surprised them by taking a picture and Al laughed. After that everyone joined and soon enough pictures of everyone had been taken.
The moment of happiness lasted only minutes before they were yet again fighting floating lightning producing creatures. Al wielded his whip with ease against the creatures. It would have been easier to use water magic against them, but they decided to go againt the cube-like and eye covered creatures with physical attacks. Things seemed completely normal with Harry slashing the creatures with his silver sword, Neville using his silver guns, and Luna using her silver staff. The others used their own physical methods, but one of the cubes approached Luna and morphed into a lightning silhouette that looked almost like a fox. The lightning fox invaded Luna's body by jumping into her and the girl screamed. In the middle of the fight no one noticed what had just happened and no one noticed either when the darkened skies of Mortghre started to produce lightning that was aimed at Luna's convulsing frame. Her body absorbed the bolts and went still.
Neville had been fighting another lightning cube and saw Luna on the ground, not moving. The image distracted him and if it hadn't been for the reflexes he had developed the creature would have defeated him. Right when the creature opened all of its eyes and produced a great bolt to shock Neville he reacted by channeling water magic into his knuckles and boots. The creature tried to tackle him, glowing with its lightning power, but Neville punched it and kicked it, vanquishing it with his water blows. The young man ran towards Luna and cradled her in his arms. "Luna! Luna! What's wrong?" The girl was unconscious and Neville got nervous, biting his lower lip while trying to figure what had happened.
"It has started!" Angelus' deep voice stated. The fight was over.
"What do you mean?" a confused Neville asked.
"He means that her mutation has been chosen, but now we need to find refuge. This is a nasty lightning storm!" Al's remark brought them to their current situation and many gazes automatically fixed on the constantly white and light blue streaked sky that kept causing roaring thunder.
Swiftly lifting Luna, Neville sent an inquisitive glance towards Harry. "Al is right. We'll be fried if we stay here."
In answer to Harry's words Janryu screamed as he was shocked by a bolt. His hair frizzed causing Soshlan and Nemaisse to giggle. "It's not funny!" retorted the vampire with a glare.
"At least you cannot die by being shocked, but there are others among us that are not classified as undead." Kroy replied, also getting an angry glance from the young vampire.
"But where can we get shelter? We are in the middle of nowhere!" Dianeia blurted with frightened eyes that kept scanning their surroundings.
"We can tele-transport to the ends of this land," suggested Sailka. "The border is not far."
Harry nodded at the elven warrior's suggestion and they all held on to each other and disappeared, appearing on the opposite edge.
Angelus removed his mask and softly blew into a burgundy ring he produced in his right hand. He then closed his eyes and when he opened them the ring sprouted wings and flew away. "When our business is finished in Phaxeram the airship will be waiting for us."
"Phaxeram?" asked Harry.
"The Phoenix civilization's city, Harry. It's where we are heading and it is beyond those mountains." Al pointed into a chain of mountains ahead of them.
"They are very boring people if you asked me. Why would you waste your time going there, Harry? You won't find any fragments there. We should just call the airship now and leave towards Azfarath to finish this once and for all." Damnian drawled with a bored expression on his face while staring at his delicate hands.
"Silence!" Angelus commanded in an semi-angered tone. "We are not ready to go to Azfarath and you know it."
Harry started to have an internal battle at that moment. He didn't feel ready to fight Nebureth and he had a feeling Angelus was right, but at the same time he felt quite tempted to follow Damnian's suggestion. It almost made sense to him that they were indeed wasting time and that they should simply head for Azfarath and get it over with. Nebureth had Ron and Hermione! Harry wanted to free his friends! Shaking his head from the barrage of thoughts Harry spoke: "We will head for Phaxeram. I have a feeling we'll obtain something there, even if there are no fragments." Harry then checked his map and nodded, more to himself than to anyone in particular.
XxXxX
The journey towards Phaxeram was tiring and full of encounters with fiends. By the time they reached the city's outskirts everyone wanted to lie down and sleep. Harry wondered if they would be allowed to rest in the city, but Angelus told him that it could be difficult so they made camp.
That night Harry couldn't sleep. Images of Ron and Hermione kept tormenting him. He knew deep inside that they hadn't been harmed, but it pained him to feel that they were in that world because of him. He still couldn't understand how something like that could have happened. It was he who had touched the strange stone with Neville and Luna. Ron and Hermione had nothing to do with it. They were supposed to be in Hogwarts, happily taking classes and waiting patiently for him, Harry, to return to them. Instead, now they were probably in slumber, just like many other children from Larakain.
"Hey!" The soft tenor voice woke Harry and he stared at the tanned man with glowing blue eyes that was beside him. "You should try to rest. You won't gain anything by standing there."
"I can't sleep, Kroy. It's just not possible to shut my eyes and ignore what's happening."
"It will pass. You might not be able to sleep for the first two nights, but eventually you will."
"I know." Harry closed his eyes and sighed. "Maybe I should try sleeping. I don't know. It's just... Never mind."
Kroy suddenly hissed and lifted his right hand in a silencing gesture. Harry readied himself along with his half-Draconian companion and whispered, "Should we wake the others?" Kroy shook his head and Harry waited. Someone was watching them, but the creature wasn't attacking. It was simply observing them.
"It's studying us," Kroy said.
"Do you think it might be from the city?"
"Perhaps." Cautiously, Kroy approached some trees and spoke aloud. "Who are you and what do you want?"
Harry was shocked beyond measure when he saw a bird-like creature come out of hiding. The creature stood like a human and walked like a human, but had claws instead of feet, and it had human hands that merged with crimson and amber feather covered arms that looked as if they could transform into wings. Harry could see part of those arms even when they were covered with wide long sleeves. The creature was dressed in dark brown robes down to its claws. It's bird-like face looked at Kroy and then at Harry. Harry identified the head as that of a phoenix'. Evidently, the creature was from the city of Phaxeram.
"It's been a very long time since we've had any visitors," the creature spoke, full of confidence. "I am one of the city's guardians. I had to check on you."
"Will you let us into the city in the morning?" Harry asked the creature.
"In the morning, yes. The city's doors remain closed during nighttime."
"What is your name?"
The creature studied Harry before responding. "My name is Closkien. I will leave now."
Kroy and Harry saw Closkien leave and Harry approached Kroy. "Do you think it will be all right? Do you reckon he trusts us?"
"I don't know, Harry. I've never even seen these creatures before."
XxXxX
It wasn't the sun's rays that awoke the travelers. Instead, they were startled by the screeching noise of giant metallic doors opening, exposing the city before them. They folded their tents and stared perplexed at the strange city. It looked like they were being welcome, but they didn't know why. Harry even wondered if it was some sort of trap, but a hand on his shoulder calmed him and Al's voice spoke in his ear. "It was like this too when I came. They are not exactly friendly, but they welcome strangers."
Luna, who had awoken with the others in the morning, looked tired. It seemed that what kept her standing was the chubby boy that held her lovingly, helping her stay focused.
Harry looked at Angelus, waiting for a signal from the older man that didn't come so he took the first step, leading the rest of them into the city. A group of citizens got in front of them and walked, leading them into some specific place. Eventually, they arrived at a temple and entered it. The temple was golden and full of splendor. The light clashed with the golden walls and floor, blinding the adventurers.
The altar was extremely large and full of non moving Phoenix people, all in golden robes and wearing golden crowns or tiaras on their feathered heads. One of them spoke with a female voice, "Now choose which one of you will be granted the power you seek."
An expression of confusion adorned Harry's face. "We seek no power."
"Everyone seeks power to either do right or wrong." The female's eyes landed on Al and the phoenix perched on his left shoulder. Her gaze then landed on each of Harry's companions and then on Harry again. "You have the phoenix summon, yet you have already evolved." Harry seemed more confused at the statement and was alarmed when the priestess said, "You have chosen. Take what you need and evolve."
Luna fainted into Neville's arms, her body glowing golden. "What's happening to her now?" Neville asked in quivery voice.
"The phoenix power is merging with lightning. Her mutation will be... a queer one. I've never seen something like this, but when the time comes she will merge with two summons at the same time, the lightning one and the fire one."
"Will Fenghuang abandon me?" an unsure Harry inquired.
"No, he won't. He will simply merge with her and Bijon, but he will remain your summon. Now, have this." A majestic golden sword floated towards Harry and his silver one abandoned his scabbard and landed on the priestess' hands. "One last word, young travelers. Beware of one of your companions."
Thanks to: HiddenETC, bandgsecurtiyaw, Rainbow Phoenix, and lovenotknown!
